Garden furniture for your mid-century home

With the creation of our garden underway, we have come upon a bit of a stumbling block — What to do for outdoor furniture?

The old timber table and bench seats from our previous home were weathered and worn (but gladly found a new owner through roadside hard rubbish!) so we have spent the last few months with nothing. This hasn’t been an issue however, as we haven’t had a decent area outside to locate any furniture!

A mid-century home is all about the perfect mix of indoors and outdoors. Wide expanses of window walls bring natural light and views of the garden flooding in. Paved terraces extend out from living areas, inviting residents and guests alike to relax outdoors.

This need to entertain outdoors is not only part of a modernist lifestyle. It is an Australian tradition to sit around outside and enjoy a bbq with friends and family, even in Melbourne or Hobart where the temperature is not always suitable!

So what could be more important to an Australian mid-century modern garden than something to sit on, eat off and entertain around?

The recent jaw-dropping images from Modernism Week in Palm Springs have provided plenty of inspiration, such as the classic shot from Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House shown previously.

An amazing house, stunning pool, beautiful clean lines of paving and a backdrop that memorizes. However, the furniture appears to consist only of sun lounges and side tables.

What happens when you are feeding a party of eight?

(Via plastolux.com)

Again in this example of a mid-century home in Perth, the setting is amazing. The design is timeless and a perfect match to the architecture of the home. However, there doesn’t seem to be a large dining table where the whole family can sit around to enjoy burnt sausages or Christmas roast.

This trend continues as you try to find that perfect furniture set for your modernist terrace.

A stunning lounge to kick back and read your novel / magazine of choice.

(Via modernistaustralia.com)

The perfect match to your coastal beach shack – weathered cane furniture that has been handed down from your grandmother and easily (or creakily) absorbs your weary bones after an afternoon at the beach.

Modern Exterior by Allen Construction (Source: houzz.com.au)

Strikingly modern lounges that reflect your choice of furniture inside (however I would always worry about the cushions getting wet……)

Stones, Ellis, 1971, Australian Garden Design, South Melbourne

And from the timeless work of Ellis Stones, perfectly selected wire chairs to complement a secluded courtyard (and fruit bowl).

Stones, Ellis, 1971, Australian Garden Design, South Melbourne cp10

Or even the eternal favorite – A painted cast iron setting (with or without rickety legs).

4 thoughts on “Garden furniture for your mid-century home”

If only you could get a giant tulip table that’s treated for the outdoors! Otherwise a modern table + MCM chairs could work well. Something visually simple (like this, just as a quick example) plus colourful wire chairs maybe?

Thanks Steph! If only all the beautiful midcentury indoor tables could work outside! Thankfully there are plenty of simple modern tables (such as the one you suggested) and I am sure we can come up with a good combination. At the end of the day if we go for a simple and practical table, then the garden can be the feature and not the furniture!

Thanks Jane! Quite often we have come back to a cafe seating style. You just have to make sure it doens’t look too much like McDonalds outdoor seating! We have found some interesting things at places such as Recollections / Early Settler. I guess Ikea is always an option too!